2023 ICC Cricket World Cup (50 over version)

(17-10-2023 17:53 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  I feel like the tournament is well and truly alive, after England's loss (no big surprise) and now South Africa making a mess of things against the Netherlands.

I prefer to think that the Netherlands were better on the day! It has to be good for the sport, that the major nations are not immune from being turned over! As i have stated before, my only gripe is that they (Eng Aus SA etc) get far too many chances to get back in to the competition. Eng would already be heading home I think, and Aus hanging on by a thread with fewer try again opportunities!

^^ Absolutely, Netherlands, were making a hash of it themselves, but finished their innings so strong to post a competitive total, 100+ runs in the last 9 overs. South Africa lost the plot at times, 32 extras showed a lack of discipline. By contrast the Netherlands read the pitch well and the whole bowling unit delivered.

I know that you want to see a big nation miss out on a semi place, but let the minnows work for it, don't hand it to them depending on who is in a stronger or easier group. Everyone playing everyone leaves no doubt, the best 4 teams will progress by virtue of most wins. I don't get your point about Eng/Aus getting too many chances to get back into the tournament, equally Netherlands have exactly the same number of chances, if they win more games than Eng/Aus they will finish above them in the group.
Yoo can't analyze the defeats by Eng/Aus and fit them into a scenario of a 4 team group. Both teams knew from the outset how many defeats they could afford to make, granted that can lead to carelessness, and sloppy cricket. But I would argue that those defeats may never have happened in a group with 3 matches, high intensity, more at stake.
In the last World Cup England played their best with their backs against the wall, when one defeat would put them, treating every game like a final.

Williamson is expected to be out for around 3 weeks with a fractured thumb, devastating to suffer a freak injury after 6 months re-hab on his ACL. Blundell called up as cover, so there has to be some doubt if he will be able to play any further part.

Latest ODI bowling rankings have the 3 Afghanistan spinners in the top 10, 3 Aussies, with India and the Kiwis 2 each. England's highest ranked player is the out of form Woakes at 20th. Malan is the only England batsman in the top 10 at 8th. All this adds up to a decline in their form since the last World Cup.

Great ebb and flow, but ultimately far too many dropped catches from Afghanistan, you can't give a side like New Zealand opportunities to get back in the game. Instead of a 290 target, they could've been restricted to below 250. When you have top order batsmen in with 10 overs to go there is always the potential to catch up.
The Kiwi bowling should be too strong, this total looks out of reach.

Afghanistan couldn't back it up! Had opportunities as you suggest Booms, but couldn't (quite literally) grab them! Maybe ran out of steam, after the 'nervous energy' expended the other day??

Commentators quote of the day ' Afganistan fielding is starting to make Australia's look good'.
There was one good catch behind the stumps but apart from that there was dolly's and stumpings missed all over the pitch.
Jonathan Trott needs to get them a specialist fielding coach.

India march on, Kohli wins the game with a six to reach his century, and now within one of equaling the 49 ODI tons achieved by Tendulkar. Bangladesh made a bright start, with a run a ball 93 opening stand, but then lost their way as India took control, the 256 total was well below par as India knocked it off with quiet efficiency.

Still waiting for that close game, tomorrow perhaps. Australia v Pakistan ?

An opening stand of 259 between Warner (163) and Marsh (121) laid the foundations for a 367-9 total. What Pakistan do possess is great death bowling and fought back well to prevent the Aussies reaching 400 which was achievable given the start. Given the score Afridi finished with tidy figures of 5-54.
Pakistan elected to field, so fancy a chase on a good wicket with small boundaries.